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The Dark Lord Daigotsu - Master of Jigoku was a tall man with languid, bone white hair; Often adorned in a kimono of black and silver. Padded here and there with the light battle armor of a Shugenja. He was described as having a "handsome, youthful face tinged eternally with amusement," [1] though he chose to hide his visage behind a porcelain red-streaked demon mask, giving honor to his patron deity, The Ninth Kami Fu Leng.

Empress Hochiahime and her caravan were attacked by the Blood-Red Moon Cultists, who took her and and her children hostage. The cultists chose to slaughter the family in a Bloodspeaker ritual. As they prepared, a ronin named Yotsu snuck into the camp (located in the Treacherous Pass) and secretly exchanged his young son with the young Imperial Heir, Hantei Sotorii, in order to save the future of the royal bloodline. [4] When the Bloodspeakers prepared the sacrifice, the Ronin Yotsu's son spat in their faces and revealing that their plan had been ruined. Realizing this deception, the Bloodspeakers felt the prisoners would better serve as hostages as they fled into the Unicorn Clan lands. Though they no longer held the Imperial Heir, they still had custody of a pregnant Empress, and the idea of raising her child as a Bloodspeaker was immensely appealing. [3]

As Daigotsu was born into this world the Bloodspeakers performed a ritual binding his soul to an unnamed Oni, combining the strongest qualities of both demon and man. Before being used on Daigotsu, this ritual was first tested on two other subjects. The first was a child named Omoni, whose ritual went wrong and instead of an Oni, his soul was bound to the unquiet spirit of a bakemono. A second, more successful attempt was performed upon the Ronin Yotsu's son, who would grow up to become Goju Kyoden, Yojimbo (Personal Bodyguard) to Daigotsu. The third success was Daigotsu himself. In later years, it made Daigotsu's maho magic violently potent, and gave him the abillity to posess the bodies of Oni. [3][6]

The cultists could not hide a child of Hantei within the Empire for long, so they performed another ritual whereby Omoni, Kyoden, and Daigotsu were all physically exiled to Jigoku (Hell). This left only one remaining Hantei (Satorii) in the Emerald Empire. Who upon taking the throne in 1128 fullfilled the prophecy and brought about the Second Day of Thunder. [3]

Nearly two decades later, following Fu Leng's defeat on the Second Day of Thunder, the same cult of Bloodspeakers (now led by Iuchi Shahai) summoned Daigotsu, Kyoden, and Omoni back into the Empire. [3] Daigotsu and Shahai were instantly attracted to one another but Daigotsu disappeared before their relationship could develop. [7] The returned trio headed off to follow Daigotsu's dreams of power. [8]

Daigotsu escaped from the cultists with his comrades Omoni, and Kyoden. [9] Alongside with Kokujin they traveled to Oblivion's Gate in the hopes of finding a means of travel between the Spirit Realms. Daigotsu intended to use this knowledge to return the Dark God Fu Leng to the mortal realm (Ningen-do), but the gate had no magic to offer for this purpose. [10]

Instead they encountered Oracle of ThunderTonbo Toryu, who was guarding the Gate. Daigotsu took advantage of the Oracles' obligation to answer one question from any mortal; Toryu told Kyoden that the Tsuno mastered travel between the Spirit Realms. [10]

Having united the Lost under his leadership, Daigotsu oversaw the foundation of the City of the Lost, deep within the the haunted Shadowlands to the south of the Empire. He and Kokujin mused upon their future plans, and Daigotsu offered the mad ise zumi a place in his city. Kokujin refused however, claiming he had more pressing matters to attend to back in Rokugan. [11]

Daigotsu created the fearsome Onisu from the raw material of Yume-do, the Realm of Dreams. [12]

"I have studied the Tsuno magic. All the Spirit Realms are one. All I need do is find the proper passages and Fu Leng will be restored to his proper place at the heart of Jigoku. We could even send him into the Celestial Heavens if we wished."

Daigotsu had visited the Tsuno in their impirsonment in Toshigoku. The Dark Lord informed them that the kitsu race had been slain and all but swallowed by the Lion Clan, and the Tsuno leader, Tsuno Nintai, thirsted for vengeance. Daigotsu instructed Nintai to lead the Tsuno to freedom, and left Toshigoku, but promised that one day he would return to them. [13]

Daigotsu summoned Tsuno Nintai to his stronghold in the City of the Lost, the Temple of the Ninth Kami. Nintai explained that travel between Spirit Realms was easy, but safe travel was not. Links between Ningen-do (the Mortal Realm) and Tengoku (the Celestial Heavens) could be found wherever the Oracles of Light worked their magic, and the Steel Throne. To link with Jigoku (Hell), any tainted place was sufficient. One could also travel to Meido, the Realm of Waiting, from any place that had seen death. [10]

Nintai enlisted Daigotsu's aid to obtain Kitsu Okura's journals. The tainted Jade Champion had researched travel between the different Spirit Realms and was able to plant the noble heart of a shiryo within an Oni, which redeemed its dark spirit. Daigotsu agreed, but requested that the Tsuno attack against the Lion Clan should wait until the rest of the dark forces were prepared to attack together. [10]Shokansuru came to the City of the Lost and joined the forces of Daigotsu. [14]

Nintai also revealed to Daigotsu that he would need an anchor, an item which focused the energies of the Realm being travelled to. It had to be something that once belonged to the person Daigotsu sought. The Dark Lord sought the Porcelain Mask of Fu Leng for this purpose. [10]

In the meetings with the Tsuno, Daigotsu realized he could potentially use his new knowledge to unleash the Dark God Fu Leng into the Heavens themselves.[10]

In Year 1158,
Daigotsu wished to bind Yasuki Nokatsu to his service. Nokatsu submitted already having been captured, imprisoned, and tortured for nearly twenty years. Pledging his life and loyalty to Daigotsu, he became the Dark Oracle of Earth. [16][17]

The Demon Kyoso no Oni challenged Daigotsu for rulership of the Shadowlands. By then, Daigotsu's powers were so great that he slew Kyoso, and her soul was banished to Jigoku, [18] and slew all her oni spawn. [19]

Shahai was a member of Daigotsu's former order, the Bloodspeakers; it was she who had summoned Daigotsu back from his exile in Jigoku all those years ago. Seeking him out at the Temple of the Ninth Kami, she murdered his second-in-command (the Dark Daughter of Fu Leng) and usurped her position. [1]

Daigotsu sent the Onisu of Desire, Yokubo, to kill the strongest of the dead Emperor's four children (known as the Four Winds). He considered that of the four, Hantei Naseru's heart was most filled with betrayal, Toturi Tsudao's with regret and fear, and Akodo Kaneka's with ambition that drove him to destroy wantonly. That left Toturi Sezaru, the Wolf, as the strongest Wind, who survived the attempt on his life. [23]

Daigotsu ordered his forces to assault the Crab Clan's Kaiu Wall, which stood along the Empire's southern border to protect it from the Shadowlands. Using unknown magic, he also also transported a portion of his forces beyond the wall, successfully storming it from both sides. Hida Kuroda, the Crab Clan Champion, was killed by Kyofu, the Onisu of Fear, below the Wall. [24] The Wall's Sixth Tower was captured and renamed the Tower of Fear. [25]

To prove the power of the Shadowlands, Daigotsu engineered the Fall of Otosan Uchi by invading the Imperial City from the sea. [31] Knowing that the city would be impossible to hold, he sought only to leave it in ruins and watch the Great Clans blame one another for failing to defend it. [32]

The true purpose of Daigotsu's Temple of the Ninth Kami finally came to surface. The power of Fu Leng was increased through worship at the Temple, which channelled every twisted prayer the minions of the Shadowlands uttered. [35] Fu Leng gifted Daigotsu with the Obsidian Mempo of Fu Leng, a reminder that he bore the favor of a Kami. [36]

Once safely back in the City of the Lost, Omoni created a new arm for Daigotsu. The loss of Goju Kyoden, who had been killed by Matsu Nimuro, enraged the Dark Lord and in vengeance he set the Onisu upon the homes of the Four Winds. Daigotsu then planned to visit the Shadow Dragon to recover Kyoden's soul, so that it could be restored. [12] Daigotsu gave a fraction of his soul to the Shadow Dragon to restore his yojimbo, [37] and the Shadow Dragon returned Kyoden to life. [38]

After the eventual slayings of the Onisu, Daigotsu decided not to recreate them because the ritual to do so was long and extremely taxing. However, he made an exception in the case of Kyofu when he summoned the undeadHida Kuroda and Omoni. The half-goblin combined the undead Crab general and the Onisu into a single body. Thus Kyofu returned. [39]

Asako Mishime was able to infiltrate the Isawa Provinces and retrieved the Mukizo, the blade used to kill the Steel Chrysanthemum. He returned to the City of the Lost and gave the sword to Daigotsu, asking only for the opportunity to restore the Chuda family and the Snake Clan. Daigotsu granted his request, and he became Chuda Mishime, the Chuda's first daimyo in centuries. [40]

Almost a year in advance of his death, Daigotsu learned from the Dark Oracle of Void the circumstances of his eventual death. [35][3] Knowing the Lost would not stay united without him, Daigotsu gave a portion of his soul to the Shadow Dragon for safekeeping, planning his resurrection. [41]

Daigotsu sent an emissary to Hantei Naseru, believing him to be the most reasonable of the Four Winds. The emissary gifted him a jagged shard of crystal, as a message that Naseru's presence in the city on Ryoko Owari was known to Daigotsu. The Dark Lord offered him a truce, a non-aggression pact. Naseru looked upon it as acceptable, but asked where he could contact Daigotsu if needed. The dark emissary magically revealed to Naseru the location of the City of the Lost, whereupon Naseru killed him with the gifted dagger, rejecting the Dark Lord's offer. [42]

When Fu Leng invaded the heavens, the Shadow Dragon followed, and for reasons known only to itself, the dragon took Akkuai-uo, the Ancestral Sword of the Hantei, and brought it back to the Shadowlands. It gave the blade to Omoni, as a gift to Daigotsu. Fu Leng gifted the Dark Lord with his blessings, and the blade could only be drawn and wielded by members of the Hantei line. [38]

Daigotsu knew the Four Winds were gathering at Kyuden Seppun and preparing to march against the City of the Lost, as the Dark Oracle of Void forseen. Kyoden and Mishime were sent to increase the defenses of Toguchi Shinden, the temple of the Tsuno, which was at the time unknown to the Empire. It was a maneuver to take Kyoden away from the City, because he would be instrumental in the resurrection of Daigotsu after his prophesized death in the upcoming battle. Daigotsu only revealed his plan to Shahai, whom had become his lover.. [44]

In 1160 the Four Winds and their armies marched to the City of the Lost with the intention of destroying Daigotsu once and for all. The Tadaka's Children attacked from the North, while the Winds slipped into the City and the Temple of Fu Leng from the South. [45] Daigotsu was guarded by the Onisu Kyofu, Yokubo, Hakai and Muchitsujo. While both sides were fighting, Naseru rested aside, communing with Fu Leng and sewing doubts in the Dark God's mind about Daigotsu ,saying that the Lost did not worship Fu Leng but followed Daigotsu instead. Naseru's plan worked; Fu Leng's doubt cut the power he received from his worshippers, and was cast out of the Celestial Heavens. The Onisu all faded except for Kyofu, who retreated. As Daigotsu began a powerful spell that would destroy the Temple and all within it, Toturi Tsudao leap forward through the beginnings of the spell and struck down the Dark Lord, sacrificing her own life in the process. All that remained of Tsudao was her golden amulet. [46]

Shortly after his death, Omoni mended the fatal wounds Tsudao had inflicted and left the Dark Lord's body whole again. Goju Kyoden came to the House of Goju and committed seppuku to sacrifice his soul to the Shadow Dragon in order to resurrect Daigotsu [47] in the month of the Monkey. [48] The vengeful Fortune of Death Emma-O still retained part of Daigotsu's soul, which purified Daigotsu of his Taint, severing Daigotsu's connection to Jigoku, and left him unable to call upon Fu Leng's blessing. Other men would have leapt at this chance to escape the Shadowlands taint but Daigotsu's faith in Fu Leng was not diminished. [49] Daigotsu chose to hide his "weakness" to all but his closest followers and resume leadership of The Lost. [41]

Seeking help in restoring her lover's powers, Shahai opened the Tomb of Iuchiban and released Iuchiban in the year 1165. Instead of assisting Shahai, he betrayed her [50] and captured the City of the Lost, ousting Daigotsu after a ferocious battle. Daigotsu was only able to save his live when a timely arrived Kyofu took him to escape flying on an onikage. [51] In one fell swoop, Iuchiban had gained control of Daigotsu's city, Daigotsu's armies of the Lost and even Daigotsu's sword, Akkuai-uo, which through a strange twist of fate gave Iuchiban control over Omoni and his goblins. The Goju stood back and decided not to interfere in the struggle, but the Chuda family immediately swore fealty to Iuchiban. [citation needed] The ogres also joined the Heartless, but Kyofu was joined by Kokujin. [52]

The Dark Lord began to fight the Heartless, in a direct or an indirect way. When Daigotsu knew Shiro Hiruma would fall upon Iuchiban's forces, he ordered Kyofu to aid the defenders. [53] The Onisu and Kokujin attacked the bloodspeaker army that was besieging the Hiruma Castle, saving the day for the Crab Clan. Kyofu let it be known that Daigotsu offered a truce with the Crab so that they could focus on Iuchiban. Kyofu gifted Hiruma Todori with a map to the current hiding place of Tsuburu no Oni. The Oni Lord had changed his loyalty towards Iuchiban. [54]

In order to defeat Iuchiban, Daigotsu had to leave Rokugan. He ordered Kyofu to kill Shahai if he would not return from the journey. [55] Daigotsu, Noekam and Katsu traveled across the fringes of the Empire to the Burning Sands, to met an ally, the master KhadiGhiyath. They were guided by the Ghul LordTh'lazz and reached the Crimson Stronghold of the Khadi deep in the desert. There the Jinn of the Dark Hour, servant of the Khadi, attacked them but was imprisoned in the Daigotsu's katana which had a Bronze Lantern as tsuba, a trick learned by the Dark Lord from their Lost Scorpion fellows. Katsu was obliged to undergo the same ritual that created Iuchiban and became a khadi, and Daigotsu truly saw how the ritual was. [56]

Before return to Rokugan Daigotsu came to see Ruqayah of the Houses of Dahab, a Qolat Master. Th'lazz had advised Daigotsu how to manage his visit there. The Dark Lord and the Kolat agreed in the proposal made, an alliance against Iuchiban, revealing what the Kolat knew about bloodspeaker's cells to him. Daigotsu had the strength to act, and the secrecy of the Kolat would not be compromised. Ikoma Tsai, the corrupted Kolat Master, was chosen as the liaison for the new alliance. [57]

Yajinden and the Shadow Dragon worked together to deceive the guardians of Meido, the Shi-Tien Yen-Wang and Emma-O. The Daigotsu's soul was retrieved from Emma-O's fortress by Daigotsu Hoturi, giving Daigotsu back his full power. Yajinden sought the destruction of his master, Iuchiban, and had aided the only man who could defeat him. [58][59][60]

Daigotsu then moved to retake the City of the Lost while Iuchiban and his strongest followers were at Otosan Uchi. [61] Iuchiban, who had Shahai under constant monitoring, sensed Daigotsu arrival and transported him to the city, fighting the Dark Lord wielding Akkuai-uo. The Dark Lord was again near defeat at the hands of the bloodspeaker, but Katsu had interfered with the control Iuchiban exerted to his followers, breaking it. Shahai took the Ancestral Sword of the Hantei away from Iuchiban. Omoni, who swore to follow whoever wielded the blade, was free to send his bakemono against Iuchiban. The bloodspeaker sensed his armies withdrawing or turnin on him, and decided to escape toward his Iron Citadel in Otosan Uchi, casting a parting spell that set the City ablaze. [62]

Daigotsu came by sea to the city, to fight Iuchiban, while Isawa Sezaru, Hida Kisada, Matsu Aoiko and their combined Crab and Lion forces besieged Iuchiban's citadel in Otosan Uchi. [63] He dispatched Rezan to offer his greetings to Sezaru and Aoiko, who had retrieved the Hidden Heart of Iuchiban. The Dark Lord had promised that his soldiers would do them no harm. Daigotsu played an instrumental role in the Bloodspeaker's defeat by having Katsu sever Iuchiban's ties with his followers, giving Sezaru enough time to destroy the Hidden Heart of Iuchiban so the Bloodspeaker could be slain. [64]

Kyoso no Oni saw weakness in Daigotsu after his City of the Lost was ruined, [67] and attacked Shahai to remove a supporter of her enemy, but Daigotsu arrived on time and she was saved. The Time of Demons had begun. [68] Kyoso's forces were larger and more powerful and Daigotsu began to rebuild his own. [69]

In 1167 the Shadow Dragon gathered the bloodspeakers that were without a leader after the death of Iuchiban. In the City of the Lost they saw how Katsu ordered to kill themselves to all who had followed Iuchiban for years. Only remained those who fell in the Rain of Blood, who were offered to join Daigotsu. In this way Daigotsu showed the betrayers would be easily found and punished, being tightly bound to Katsu's will as any others, and by extension to Daigotsu as well. [70]

The camp for redeemed tainted Samurai from the Shadowlands situated in the Crane lands, bargained by Katsu was destroyed by Daigotsu Rekai commanded by Daigotsu. She took the information gathered regarding Daigotsu's weaknesses. [71]

Daigotsu used the knowledge of Shokansuru discovered by Chuda Mishime to summon Akuma no Oni in the Forgotten Tomb of Fu Leng, but severed the Oni Lord's connection to Jigoku. If Daigotsu were to die Akuma would also die, and without hope of respawning the Oni Lord was compelled to follow Daigotsu's orders. [70]

This year Daigotsu sent Daigotsu Soetsu to meet Kisada, the returned Fortune of Persistence. The Dark Lord's forces had been greatly weakened after the Iuchiban's struggle, and it was raising a subtle civil war between his followers of Bushido, the Lost, against the demons of Jigoku. Soetsu surrendered himself to the Crab, and requested Kisada military aid, to send the Damned to protect them. In return Daigotsu would show how the soul of Hida Kuroda could be returned from the abomination Kyofu. [72]

The Dark Lord sent Kokujin, the Prophet of the Dark Lotus, to gather weak-minded in the Empire to spread peasant revolts. Daigotsu expected that by the time the demons that stood against him were well and truly destroyed, Kokujin and his adherents would have torn Rokugan's spirit apart with their lies and misdirection. After the tide of destruction that he would unfold the Dark Lord would stand over Rokugan's corpse. [70]

Daigotsu made many unusual moves in the time since Iuchiban's defeat, the most major and controversial of which was sending Soetsu as ambassador to the court of Toturi III to petition for the right to become a Great Clan. The resulting political, philosophical, religious and moral issues involved with his petition caused a flurry of debate between the Clans and led Toturi III to travel the Empire in secret seeking enlightenment. Soetsu was made a guest of the Scorpion Clan[73] and as a gift, Daigotsu gave to the Scorpion the Porcelain Mask of Fu Leng, now cleansed of all Taint. [74] In 1168 the reanimated body of Moto Tsume gathered Mirumoto Taishuu, the Empire ambassador to the Shadowlands, to the City of Lost. [75]

Daigotsu's son, Kanpeki, would grow to be a powerful warrior and shugenja. Daigotsu vowed that his son would, upon the day of his gempukku, inherit the Empire of Rokugan, and from that Empire conquer the world, as prophecied. It was the Spider Clan's duty to fulfill this prophecy. [85]

The Dark Lord had learned repentant Lost were escaping the Shadowlands, escorted to safety within the Empire by traitors within his midst with the help of agents of the Jade ChampionAsahina Sekawa. Using this means of entry, the Lost had been infiltrating the Empire establishing hidden strongholds: the Shadowlands Marshes of Shinomen, the abandoned ruins of Otosan Uchi, and the collapsed and abandoned Beiden Pass. These strange samurai, representatives of the Spider Clan, offered their targets their heart's desire, and for so small a price. Gradually the Spider's web entangled the foolish and selfish. [85][88][89]

When news of the Celestial Tournament reached to the Black Silk Castle, Daigotsu's court, he decided the Spider Clan had to be represented at it. He expected the patronage of Fu Leng, the Dark Kami, met the conditions imposed to be there. [99] Four Spider were allowed to compete under Tengoku's acknowledgement of their true nature. [100]

Having won the Celestial Tournement, EmpressIweko I, trascended to divine and gained truth about the Spider. The bases in the Shinomen Mori and the Ruined City were exposed to the Empire and chased by the new ShogunMoto Jin-sahn. The Empress did this in secret so that the Empire was unaware of Spider's connection to Jigoku. Even more, Daigotsu Susumu, untainted but loyal to Daigotsu was annointed as Imperial Advisor. [102] Daigotsu ordered fire be set to the Shinomen Mori. [103]

The Master Saleh told Daigotsu about the Destroyer's Horde, which the jackals knew from prophecies and legends. He also passed on all his knowledge about the Ebon Daughter. [106] The Dark Lord sought to find her, seeking to know what was happening and why. [87]

The Ebon Daughter visited Daigotsu in the Fingers of Bone bringing a message from Kali-Ma, Capitulation or Destruction. Daigotsu parlayed for a time until she threatened the Dark Lord's family. Daigotsu grasped her throat, and she was marked with the talons of Sanuro no Oni sprouting from his fingertips. She returned to Kali-Ma with Daigotsu's counter warning, Leave the Empire, claimed by Fu Leng and his scions among the Daigotsu, or fight the Spider Clan until Rokugan would burn. [105] In this time Daigotsu was able to learn the locale of the Ebon Daughter's stronghold. [108][109]

1171 Second Winter Court of Iweko I in Kyuden Gotei the Empress proclaimed that she was suspending the edict calling for the immediate execution of Daigotsu. Instead demanding that he be brought before her. Such edict astonished the attendants and no explanation was forthcoming. Susumu hurried to inform the Dark Lord of his summons. Daigotsu used Katsu's special powers [110] and in 1172 conversed with Empress Iweko through Daigotsu Oki an infiltrated supai in the Imperial City. The child acting as the Dark Lord's spiritual surrogate during the meeting. The Empress knew of the Jackal advisors, and Fu Leng ejection from Jigoku. She wished information regarding the Destroyers, which Daigotsu gave. Addtionally he shared his knowledge of the magnitude of the Ebon Daughter’s power. In return Taishuu was permitted to remain within Toshi Ranbo under guard. The request Daigotsu made about the restoration of the Hantei as an Imperial family in service to the throne was rejected. [111]

Daigotsu, again using Katsu's abilities, was informed by Daigotsu Gahseng that the mastermind behind the Plague Zombies was the Ghul Lord. He had been seen with the Ebon Daughter at Ryoko Owari. Daigotsu ordered Gahseng to kill the traitor. After achieving his mission to destroy the Ghul Lord the Scorpion Clan burned the Leatherworker's Quarter to the ground. [113]

Those who bore taint began to feel the grip of the Kali-Ma's will. Daigotsu's followers were now under compulsion to betray him and swear fealty to the new avatar of Jigoku. To combat this usurping force Shahai obtained a new supply of Tea of Jade Petals for the children of the Spider, and Daigotsu had to be careful about his lieutenants. [114]

Katsu warned Daigotsu that Isawa Fosuta was loyal only to himself, but the Dark Lord did not act on the knowledge. Katsu instead used a newcomer, Takasho. Together they managed to defeat the former inquisitor. [115]

Outside Ryoko Owari Toshi Kali-Ma unleashed her God-Beast. Daigotsu was instrumental in the defeat of the gigantic creature. He sent his forces to join the rokugani defending the city and entrusted Daigotsu Shimekiri with a clay bottle filled with the blood of the Kami Fu Leng to be used against the monster. Eventually the God-Beast was destroyed. [116] Shimekiri’s account had perplexed him, and Daigotsu did not know if Gakku’s mad dash succeeded or was another force behind. He sent Konetsu to the Empire to investigate. He never returned. [117]

In 1173 Empress Iweko sent a delegation of young samurai and the monkFurumaro beyond the northern borders of Rokugan, to Daigotsu. He read a scroll from the Empress and ordered to fetch the original Tao of Fu Leng and handed it over to the delegation. [118] In the scroll Iweko also asked to meet together at a certain date. [119] He ordered a Spider force to follow the group and to act when it would be necessary. [120] In the month of the Horse Daigotsu marched to Shinden Gyokei, a remote temple in the Scorpion lands, to a planned rendezvous with the Empress Iweko I. [121]

In the month of the Goat, [121] during the final battle of the Destroyer War, Daigotsu appeared in the moment and place the Empress indicated. He met Iweko, Voice of the EmperorTogashi Satsu, Imperial Advisor Susumu, and ShogunMoto Jin-sahn in the courtyard of a temple in the Scorpion provinces. At his arrival, the Shogun tried to strike him down, and Daigotsu struck back to defend himself. Susumu protected the Shogun from Dagotsu's magic, taking its full blast, and when his loyalty was put in doubt by Daigotsu, he responded that he served two lords with equal devotion. [119]

The Empress informed Daigotsu that she would be willing to accept the Spider as a Minor Clan under her reign with Daigotu's son, Daigotsu Kanpeki, leading it inside the Celestial Order and the Empire. All non-Tainted Spider Clan members would be granted amnesty and the right to bear the mon of the Spider; and Daigotsu's heir would receive the blessings of the Celestial Heavens, severing his connection to Jigoku. Additionally, Kanpeki would become a noble of Rokugan, trained in the Imperial household as was fitting for a descendant of the Hantei Dynasty. The price for this, the Empress said, was Daigotsu's life, and she offered the Dark Lord a sword with which he would be required to commit seppuku, suicide. After some consideration of the benefits, Daigotsu accepted the blade and the Empress' offer. [119]

After accepting the Empress' offer to elevate the Spider Clan in return for his own death, the Dark Lord of the Shadowlands knelt in the middle of the courtyard and plunged the blade into his own heart. [122]

Fu Leng knew that defeating the demon goddess Kali-ma could not be done by physical might alone, so as Daigotsu's soul reached Jigoku, the Ninth Kami ceded all power to him. Daigotsu would never endure subjugation as Jigoku's servant; instead he used his new power to bind the Realm of Evil to his will, becoming the Master of Jigoku. In the mortal realm, Kali-Ma murdered the weakened Ninth Kami, but Shahai enacted a ritual that drained the divinity and power of Kali-Ma with the Tao of Fu Leng. Moments later, Daigotsu's soul manifested on the battlefield and ripped Kali-Ma's heart out of her chest, ending the Destroyer War. His emergence from Jigoku created the Second Festering Pit. [122]

The Dark Lord assumed rulership of the Realm of Evil with the new power to elevate souls into Dark Fortunes, the first two being Susumu, the Dark Fortune of Deception, and Shahai (who had been killed that very day by Hiruma Akio), Dark Fortune of Blood. [122]

Susumu met the Empress and rearranged her proposal on behalf of his Lord. The Spider Clan would gain the status of Great Clan, with Kanpeki as it's Champion, and in return Daigotsu would withhold the Taint from all humans except those who willingly accepted it. [122]

After twenty years of peace under the rule of Iweko I, the Celestial Order had been restored and Ningen-do was again neutral. In 1199 the Elemental Dragons prepared the return of the Oracles of Light, as well as the Dark Oracles, permitted leave from the depths of Jigoku by their master, Daigotsu. [125]

Because the Shadow Dragon was an untrustworthy ally, and because it refused to kill Iweko Seiken before he was chosen as Iweko I's successor, in 1200 Kanpeki lured the dragon to a secret and hidden Dark Temple within the Colonies, the Temple to the Dark God. Daigotsu appeared there and imprisoned the Shadow Dragon in the temple. Its location was known only to Kanpeki and Daigotsu saw to it that the dragon's prison would be hidden from the eyes of mortals. [126]